"The sociologist Arnold Arluke has noted that dogs, specifically pit bulls, can provide a convenient scrim behind which people can voice negative comm "The sociologist Arnold Arluke has noted that dogs, specifically pit bulls, can provide a convenient scrim behind which people can voice negative comments about other humans. 'When vented indirectly toward animals, he wrote of anti-pit bull sentiment, 'hostility toward human groups may not raise public ridicule because these inappropriate remarks are one step away from us."
That's about it there in a nutshell. There is very little evidence that pit bulls are more dangerous than any other dog. And therein lies some of the problem, there is a lot of science in here, and part of it explains the way we think dogs are completely harmless. (Unlike cats, which we still agree are allowed to have some wildness, they are allowed to strike at us without us automatically putting them to death). But the truth is, many people, even people with dogs, do not understand dog behavior or how a dog is attempting to express its discomfort with a situation. All the pit bulls I've known have been giant muscly lap dogs that are eager to please and like their cuddles. This like most things, is really about the humans. We should mostly be happy that dogs continue to tolerate us, especially when we so often let them down so entirely. ...more
This was interesting. I probably would have liked it more if I hadn't read so many other dog books. Is seems I am probably reaching some kind of point This was interesting. I probably would have liked it more if I hadn't read so many other dog books. Is seems I am probably reaching some kind of point of diminishing returns on dog books, much of the early sections of this had been covered by other books I've read, though he brings in a lot of interesting reporting to this. I guess I find the question of pets as citizens perhaps less interesting, and I'm generally more interested in understanding the science of dogs, and for that purpose I would recommend Brian Hare's book The Genius of Dogs: How Dogs Are Smarter Than You Think. This focuses more on some sociological and historical aspect of our relationship with cats and dogs....more
Yep. Dogs are awesome. Charleson talks about her experience, and others, at using dogs to help with emotional and mental trauma. In the area is a loca Yep. Dogs are awesome. Charleson talks about her experience, and others, at using dogs to help with emotional and mental trauma. In the area is a local non-profit that trains dogs for veterans with PTSD, so I've seen and heard about this kind of work before. It doesn't make it any less amazing though. ...more
This was well written and a fast read. I've read about this author's work in some of the other dog books I've read, and I enjoy his findings, especial This was well written and a fast read. I've read about this author's work in some of the other dog books I've read, and I enjoy his findings, especially his experiments on pointing. Especially that dog friendliness is not some horrible characteristic, but part of their brand of intelligence. According to studies dogs prefer to be in the company of humans if given the choice between humans and other dogs. I just love dogs. This book celebrates some of their unique treats while acknowledging their limitations. ...more
I feel like I'm starting to know my way around the dog/animal literature, and this was not one of my favorites, although he raised some interesting po I feel like I'm starting to know my way around the dog/animal literature, and this was not one of my favorites, although he raised some interesting points, namely the discussion of pointing (dogs understand when humans point at something, which is a trait that other animals - especially wolves or chimps, don't share) and the way shelters in the blue states are commonly staffed by puppies from the red states. My recommendation for favorite dog book would be - Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet. ...more
Ummm. So I liked this, then about halfway through it became one of those books I just wanted to be over. So, there's that. Also I generally have objec Ummm. So I liked this, then about halfway through it became one of those books I just wanted to be over. So, there's that. Also I generally have objections to the dominant "pack leader" theory of dog training / rearing. Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet, to me, provides a much more compelling model for thinking about dog behavior. If dogs are able to differentiate between other dogs and humans, as Grandin says that they are, why would they take rules that might apply to dogs living together and impose them on humans? To me it's not a compelling theory. However, most of the rest of the research she talked about (aside from the dog stuff), was really interesting and more about animals than autism which I enjoyed. She also reads as anti-Rottweiler/Pit-Bull, because she says they are innately agressive, and people who live with them and don't get bittern are apparently just lucky the dogs never attack. She doesn't so much say that outright, but something really close to that. /Shrug.
This is a really awesome book. Do not be fooled by how long it took me to read it, it spent most of the summer being my ebook book, which sat around a This is a really awesome book. Do not be fooled by how long it took me to read it, it spent most of the summer being my ebook book, which sat around as I poured through library books, and then I finally started reading it again during the depths of the semester in bits and pieces.
Kotler really gets at the heart of what it means that humans cohabiting with dogs and the nature of dogs.
"A 2002 SUNY-Buffalo study found that spending a few minutes alone with a dog can do more to reduce stress than talking with a spouse or best friend, while in 2006, in a St. Louis University School of Medicine study, nursing home residents reported that spending time alone with a dog was a far greater cure for loneliness than spending time with other people."
If you love dogs this book is worth reading. ...more
I thought this book was really interesting, and definitely important to anyone who owns or wants to own a dog. Seriously. I love dogs, and I spend a f I thought this book was really interesting, and definitely important to anyone who owns or wants to own a dog. Seriously. I love dogs, and I spend a fair amount of time around mine and other people's dogs and I learned a lot from this book. The first half of the book is dedicated to an understanding of the evolution of dogs, which sometimes gets a bit dull - but it plays into his larger point. Most of our common understandings of dogs, as mini-wolves, pack animals that need to assert their dominance is fundamentally flawed. This has major implications for the way people train, treat and understand their dogs. ...more
I've definitely read about the bad rap that pit bulls get. Even the people I'm house sitting for, who have two boxers, told me a story about how they I've definitely read about the bad rap that pit bulls get. Even the people I'm house sitting for, who have two boxers, told me a story about how they had adopted one dog and when the vet told them it was a pit bull and not a boxer they returned it. Couldn't have a pit bull. I've also read The Dogs Who Found Me where he talks a lot about pit bulls.
Personally, I think the opinion should change. I think it's an opinion born of fear and ignorance. (As are most opinions that are near impossible to change). I'd love to adopt a pit bull if given the chance. Sure, there are aggressive dogs in the world. There are also dogs that have been horribly mistreated. And then there are dogs that transcend their terrible experiences at the hands of humans and continue loving, playing, protecting and just being dogs. Vick's dogs, the Bad Newz Dogs, are an example of the later. Almost immediately the Humane Society called them "dangerous beasts" and claimed they should just be put down. With some court ordered monetary assistance, volunteers were able to help rehabilitate (in different capacities) all but two of the 49 dogs that were rescued from the fighting operation.
Dog books always make me cry. As Ghandi put it, "the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." If the treatment and near dismissal / write off of these dogs, doesn't break your heart I don't know what will. Even some shelters were wary of taking the dogs, expecting them to be vicious dog fighting machines. When in reality they were mostly just scared and un-socialized.
Gorant mentions the parallel between Vick and his friends and the dogs. That they were drawn to the pit bulls because they saw themselves similarly. Scrappy, tough upstarts to had to fight for everything they got. And often misjudged or shied away from, because we expect certain behaviors from inner city black men and pit bulls. Some of the dogs, now therapy dogs, make rounds at inner city schools and jails, illustrating that these dogs just want to be loved and cared for. May we all learn not to judge people or dogs by what we expect them to be.
"Last, I would like to thank the dogs, not just the Vick pack, but all of them, simply for being dogs, which is to say, tolerant and perseverant; willing to connect with a world that does not always return their affection; and for proving, time and again, that life, while messy, difficult, and imperfect, has the capacity to exceed our expectations and feed our undying hope." ...more
It's a sweet book about a sweet dog, but there's not that interesting. He's telling a lot of stories about things the dog does, which is sort of the bIt's a sweet book about a sweet dog, but there's not that interesting. He's telling a lot of stories about things the dog does, which is sort of the book equivalent of home movies. Dog books that I really enjoy tend to focus more on human thoughts and responses to the animals. Bit it's a really sweet book. ...more
not going to lie i picked this up because i had seen it all the time at starbucks. i'm a sucker for dog stories, and as this one is narrated by a dog, not going to lie i picked this up because i had seen it all the time at starbucks. i'm a sucker for dog stories, and as this one is narrated by a dog, i couldn't stay away for long. anyway, i think the story being told from the point of view of the dog made the rest of the story possible. i think some of the story elements would have felt over=wrought if told from someone else's point of view. ...more
a fascinating and funny account of the day in the life of an animal surgeon.
my grandmother has repeatedly told me i should have considered becoming aa fascinating and funny account of the day in the life of an animal surgeon.
my grandmother has repeatedly told me i should have considered becoming a vet because of my rabid love of dogs. and while the idea of walking around in scrubs all day is appealing, i think i'm probably a better dog owner than vet.
anyway, i really enjoyed the book. in addition to stories of patients, there's information on vet practices and other general information about animal care. ...more
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